Maiden Tequila Hero aces Aspirant Stakes
[1]Stephanie Van Minos/Tom Cooley
Tequila Hero – bred, owned and trained by Michael LeCesse – broke his maiden in a big way on Labor Day at Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack, winning the co-featured $126,825 Aspirant Stakes for New York-bred two-year-olds at long odds and giving his sire Andromeda’s hero his second progeny stakes winner.
Prior to the Aspirant, Tequila Hero had packed quite a bit of education into five short weeks. Sprinting in open company in his Finger Lakes debut on July 31, he put in a late bid before finishing fifth. Three weeks later the colt shipped to Saratoga to go 1 1/16 miles on turf, only to encounter Notacatbutallama, a solid fourth-place finisher next out in the Grade 2 With Anticipation. On Monday, as Tequila Hero shortened back up to six furlongs and returned to dirt, LeCesse added blinkers and tapped Jeremias Flores for the ride.
After breaking from post seven of eleven at odds of 24-1, Tequila Hero stayed aloof from the tussle up front where favorite Saint Arthur (1.95-1), Dark Roast (4-1) and Stoneless (3-1) vied for the lead through hot early fractions (22.03, 45.83).
Racing in ninth early, Tequila Hero took the turn four wide and began to pick off horses in upper stretch, before launching a strong closing move. He passed his three final rivals in the last ten strides of the race, driving to 3/4-length victory. Dark Roast finished second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Saint Arthur in third. Stoneless ran fourth by another 1 1/2 lengths. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:13.48. [VIDEO[2]]
The maiden-breaking stakes victory jump-starts Tequila Hero’s bankroll, which now stands at $76,780.
Tequila Hero was foaled and raised at Dutchess Views Farm[3], home of his classic-placed sire Andromeda’s Hero. He is the second winner from two foals to start out of Tequila Lana, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Cobra King who won ten races and earned $179,305. Her other winner, 3-year-old Brobdingnagian, is also by Andromeda’s Hero.
Currently Tequila Lana has an unnamed yearling full sister to the two winners and a weanling colt by Roaring Fever. She was bred back to Andromeda’s Hero this year.
- [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/9-3-12-R7-s-Tequila-Hero-Action.jpg
- VIDEO: http://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20120903&track=FIM&race=7http://
- Dutchess Views Farm: http://www.dutchessviewsfarm.com/home.html
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2012/09/04/tequila-hero-aces-aspirant/